Apple iPhone 6 screen hits snag ahead of launch

Reuters has learned Apple is scrambling to get enough screens ready for the iPhone 6. Sources say it's unclear whether this could delay the launch. Fred Katayama reports.

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Just 18 days before the expected launch of the new iPhone, things may not exactly be in apple pie order. At issue: the ingredients. Reuters has learned that Apple's suppliers are scrambling to get enough screens ready for the iPhone 6.
Sources say Apple had to put screen assembly on hold in June and July because the backlight illuminating the screen had to be revised. They said suppliers are working hard to make up for lost time.
Apple makes tough demands on its parts suppliers to set its smartphones apart from others. The iPhone 6 will sport larger screens, and Apple's drive to make those screens as thin as possible accounted for that backlight snag.
Managing those supply chains is considered CEO Tim Cook's forte. Sources say it's unclear whether this hiccup under his watch could postpone the launch or restrict the number of phones available.
Getting this launch right is crucial because iPhones make up the vast majority of Apple's profit, and it comes after the likes of Samsung, Lenovo and Xiaomi have cut into Apple's dominance.
Investors have been betting big on the iPhone 6, sending its stock to a split-adjusted record high this week above $100. Its stock has gained 32 percent this year while Samsung's has slipped 9 percent.

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